Isn't it just possible that Gary had a down year? In judging whether or not the line did well and/or whether Walker is still the player he once was I'd have to factor in the play of Seth Payne who's just lately started looking like the guy he was before his knee injury.

I'm in the "let's see what this line does next season" camp on this question. Almost everyone has a down year every now and then. Next year I bet Walker is bringing the Funk like he did in 2002.

If it wouldn't hurt us financially I'd drop Walker and go after a guy like Marcus Spears with our 1st rounder this year...

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I like Marcus Spears as a Texan, but I have some thoughts on Walker.

Before the year started, many posters suggested that Walker couldn't be expected to have a great year, becuase he was coming off a year of injuries. I hadn't thought much about it, because I associated the concept of two years for an injury to knee injuries and running backs, but perhaps they were right.

Walker certainly didn't have a Pro Bowl year, which he has in the past. Is it possible that he'll play better next year? Is it possible he still has another Pro Bowl in him, particularly with a better defense around him? Why do we all assume that a guy who hasn't taken an NFL snap (Spears) will play better than a guy who has already been to the Pro Bowl?

In terms of the costs of Walker, the reality is that we compete in a (relatively) open market for veteran players. While we would like to pay less for Walker, we have to compete with other teams for his services. We may have also wanted a younger Walker, who wasn't a gangster (like David Boston), but perhaps one didn't exist. Maybe you're better off with the devil you know instead of the devil you don't know.

I'm a big Walker fan myself. He plays exactly the way we need a defender to play. Mean and with an attitude. I'm pretty much with Herv and mistril on this one. I think he can come back and have a good year because I see a lot of 2-gap players with long careers and there have been many a player to have an off-year after big injuries to their wheels.

I agree with that. G-funk's injuries, and the fact that Seth Payne is just now getting back to his old self has played a part in Gary's 1 year demise IMO. He is one of my favorite Texans and I think he can return to pre injury form. Robaire has become a very good player for us, and should be even better next year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't defensive lineman usually have longer careers than other positions?

Well I can honestly say I hope you guys are right!
The defense has looked very solid lately, so maybe I am jumping to conclusions early about Walker.
Its just been hard to watch us IMO being one step away from a legitimate pass rush. If Walker isn't 100% still, then I will give him the benefit of the doubt and hope he can turn it around next year.